Retractable beverage container holder

Abstract

A beverage container holder has a housing which encases a slidable frame. The frame has an ashtray disposed within a central open area and a pair of arms pivotably attached to the frame to either side of the ashtray. The frame is movable between a retracted and an extended position and the pair of arms are pivotable from an open position to a closed position. When the frame is in its extended position, access to the ashtray is provided and one or both of the arms can be moved from their closed position to their open position. In their open position, each arm in conjunction with the frame, define a partially circular aperture to accommodate a beverage container. In one embodiment, a drawer is provided in the housing for keeping coins, pens, pencils, paper or the like. In another embodiment, a drawer is provided in the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A container holder comprising: a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a frame disposed between said top and bottom surfaces and slidably mounted to said housing for movement between a retracted position within said housing and an extended position partially spaced apart from said housing, said frame having a first portion defining a central open area, said frame having a second portion defining a first partially circular opening;   a first arm disposed within said frame and having means for supporting a first container in a first direction disposed therein, said first arm defining a second partially circular opening and including a first pivot pin for pivotably mounting said first arm to said frame such that said first arm is movable between a closed position and an open position, said second partially circular opening of said first arm cooperating with said first partially circular opening of said frame to define a first partially circular aperture when in said open position, said first partially circular aperture operable to receive said first container; and   a first support base pivotably mounted to said frame by said pivot pin, said first support base supporting said first container in a second direction, said second direction being generally perpendicular to said first direction;   wherein said first support base comprises a first cup base pivotably attached by said pivot pin to said frame and operable to move from a raised stored position within said housing when said first arm is in said closed position to a lowered in use position wherein a portion of the first support base extend below said bottom surface of said housing when said first arm is in said open position.   
     
     
       2. The container holder of claim 1 further comprising an ashtray disposed within said central open area of said frame. 
     
     
       3. The container holder of claim 1 wherein said central open area includes means for supporting a container therein. 
     
     
       4. The container holder of claim 1 further comprising: foam rubber means secured to the edge of said first circular opening, said foam rubber means extending into said first partially circular opening; and   foam rubber means secured to the edge of said second partially circular opening, said foam rubber means extending into said second partially circular opening.   
     
     
       5. The container holder of claim 1 wherein said frame defines a third partially circular opening and said holder further comprises: a second arm disposed within said frame and having means for supporting a second container in a third direction disposed therein, said third direction being generally parallel to said first direction said second arm defining a fourth partially circular opening and including a second pivot pin for pivotably mounting said second arm to said frame such that said second arm is movable between a closed position and an open position, said fourth partially circular opening of said second arm cooperating with said third partially circular opening of said frame to define a second partially circular aperture when in said open position, said second partially circular aperture operable to receive said second container; and   a second support base pivotably mounted to said frame by said second pivot pin, said second support base supporting said second container in said second direction.   
     
     
       6. The container holder of claim 5 further comprising: foam rubber means secured to the edge of said third circular opening, said foam rubber means extending into said third partially circular opening; and   foam rubber means secured to the edge of said fourth partially circular opening, said foam rubber means extending into said fourth partially circular opening.   
     
     
       7. The container holder of claim 5 wherein said second support base comprises a second cup base pivotably attached to said frame and operable to move from a raised stored position when said second arm is in said closed position to a lowered in use position when said second arm is in said open position. 
     
     
       8. The container holder of claim 7 wherein said frame includes a second cammed surface which is engaged by said second cup base while said second cup base is moved from said raised stored position to said lowered in use position. 
     
     
       9. The container holder of claim 8 further comprising a cover attached to said frame, said cover provided adjacent to said cammed surface. 
     
     
       10. The container holder of claim 1, wherein said frame includes a first cammed surface which is engaged by said first cup base while said first cup base is moved from said raised stored position to said lowered in use position. 
     
     
       11. The container holder of claim 10, further comprising a cover attached to said frame, said cover provided adjacent to said cammed surface. 
     
     
       12. A container holder comprising: a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface being provided with a pair of centrally disposed walls extending a length thereof;   a frame disposed between said top and bottom surfaces and slidably mounted to said housing for movement between a retracted position within said housing and an extended position partially spaced apart from said housing, said frame having a first portion defining a central open area for receiving the centrally disposed walls of the bottom surface of the housing, said frame having a first and a second partially circular opening;   a first arm disposed within said frame and having means for supporting a first container in a first direction disposed therein, said first arm defining a third partially circular opening and including a first pivot pin for pivotably mounting said first arm to said frame such that said first arm is movable between a closed position and an open position, said third partially circular opening of said first arm cooperating with said first partially circular opening of said frame to define a first partially circular aperture when in said open position, said first partially circular aperture operable to receive a first container;   a second arm disposed within said frame and having means for supporting a second container in a first direction disposed therein, said second arm defining a fourth partially circular opening and including a second pivot pin for pivotably mounting said second arm to said frame such that said second arm is movable between a closed position and an open position, said fourth partially circular opening of said first arm cooperating with said second partially circular opening of said frame to define a second partially circular aperture when in said open position, said second partially circular aperture operable to receive a second container;   a first support base pivotably mounted to said frame by said first pivot pin, said first support base supporting said first container in a second direction, said second direction being generally perpendicular to said first direction;   a second support base pivotably mounted to said frame by said second pivot pin, said second support base supporting said second container in a second direction, said second direction being generally perpendicular to said first direction; and   a plurality of leaf springs disposed along an outer surface of said centrally disposed walls, said leaf springs pressing against said first portion of said frame in order to provide a controlled sliding friction between said frame and said housing.